The religion known as Buddhism dates back to the 6th or 5th Century BCE, when the Indian Prince Siddhartha Gautama became the “Buddha,” literally, “the Enlightened One.” The followers of the Mahayana branch of Buddhism observes Bodhi Day in celebration of the day that the Buddha sat below the Bodhi Tree and meditated on the meaning of life. Bodhi Day is celebrated mainly by the Buddhists of northern and eastern Asia (in Japan the day is known as Rohatsu) and in countries to which those people have immigrated (such as Canada). For more on Bodhi Day and the life of the Buddha, click here.
If you haven’t yet read How the Irish Saved Civilization, put it on your reading list! Author Thomas Cahill tells some remarkable stories from the era that he calls one of the “hinges of history.” Cahill makes the case that ideas that came from the Greeks, the Romans and the Jews, ideas that are among the foundational ideas of our civilization, were on the edge of an abyss, possibly to be lost forever. If not for the Irish, our civilization, at least civilization as we know it today, may have slipped away forever. Read it for yourself and see what you think.
One of the remarkable figures that jumps off the pages is Colm Cille. Known also as Saint Columba in the Roman Catholic Church, Colm Cille was one of those Irishman who inspired the notion that Ireland is the land of “Saints and Scholars.” In a world of darkness, Colm Cille helped to bring light.
Fifteen hundred years ago, in the wake of a terrible battle, full of remorse, St. Colmcille left Ireland for Scotland. On the remote island of Iona he began a new life and helped create a new world. The beautiful manuscripts he and his followers produced helped spread not only Christianity but ideas about literacy, peace-making and nation-building, not to mention punctuation! His followers became missionaries, builders, teachers. It’s no exaggeration to say that these men from the North of Ireland rebuilt Europe. (source: The Return of Colmcille)
There are very few heroes left. It seems like we face a never-ending string of political scandals, resulting in a pervasive mistrust of and disrespect for our leaders. Pop culture gives us celebrities who, inevitably it seems, demonstrate increasingly destructive behaviour as they succumb to addiction and all the other pitfalls of “stardom.” Sports can offer some inspiration, but increasingly we are disillusioned with a world that seems overtaken by greed, cheating, unsportsmanlike behaviour, and violence. People who do really good things are too often ignored by a public fascinated with the ugly and the vapid.
Yesterday we lost a true hero.
For those who don’t know his story, you must learn it. Nelson Mandela was the leading figure in the fight against the racist Apartheid regime of South Africa, the system which enabled the white minority to oppress the black majority for most of the 20th century. Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years by the Apartheid government. From his cell he grew into the symbolic leader of the struggle against Apartheid, and racism around the world. In 1990 he was released, as the government finally realized it had to change. The process led to the first multiracial elections in 1994. Mandela was elected President, a position he held until 1999.
There are many aspects of Mandela’s record and his character to admire. What stands out for me was forgiveness. After having 27 years of his life stolen by his oppressors, Mandela might have used to his influence to lead the black majority in a bloody, violent quest for retribution against the whites. Certainly there were many elements within the black community that called for that. Instead, Mandela called for peace, for forgiveness, for reconciliation. Mandela used his incredible influence, the amazing respect that he commanded, to unite the entire nation in a quest for a peaceful transition to a post-apartheid society. If anyone had a right to demand justice, to seek revenge, it may have been Mandela. Instead, he forgave.
Like Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi before him, Mandela demonstrated the power of forgiveness, of non-violence and of reconciliation. As U2’s Bono described him, Mandela was a “lesson in grace.”
Nelson Mandela was just a man. He wasn’t perfect. He had his faults, both private and public. His greatness is demonstrated in the nearly universal respect he garnered, the esteem which he was held in by people all over the world, people of all races, religions, political leanings, wealth and social standing. This respect was built on his incredible example of forgiveness.
If people tell you that Santa Claus isn’t real, tell them to think again! Saint Nicholas lived in the 3rd and 4th Centuries AD(CE). He lived in what is now known as Turkey, but what was then a Greek area of the Roman Empire. The legends surrounding his life grew and evolved over the years, eventually leading to our modern picture of Santa.
In much of Europe and in many parts of the world, St. Nicholas Day is celebrated on December 6, or on another date other than Christmas. For more information, check out the St. Nicholas Centre.
Volunteers rock big time! Join us in celebrating the immeasurably valuable contributions of volunteers in our world. From those involved in international organizations to those who work informally at the local level, volunteers make a massive, positive impact on society.
Back in 1985 the United Nations established International Volunteer Day and since then people all over the world have been celebrating on December 5 of each year.
source: United Nations
Young. Global. Active.
On IVD 2013, we not only celebrate and recognize volunteerism in all its facets, but also pay special tribute to the contribution of youth volunteers in global peace and sustainable human development. For IVD 2013 we celebrate globally that young people act as agents of change in their communities.To post/read about volunteer actions all over the world and to download useful tools and information, please visit: http://www.volunteeractioncounts.org/en/ivd-2013/
At Lord Tweedsmuir we are especially thankful for the many volunteers who work on the Library Team. Please make sure you express your thanks to these students who serve their classmates, teachers and other staff with such diligence. As an added bonus, we are pleased to invite all of our Library Team volunteers to a Christmas Party / Appreciation Lunch on Wednesday, December 18. Stay posted for more details!
Attention all Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School STAFF:
You are invited to join us at lunch on Wednesday, November 11 for a meeting of the School Library Learning Commons Committee.
The School Library Learning Commons belongs to everyone in our school community, including you. We need the input, ideas and direction of teachers from all over the building, across the curriculum and representing every grade. Please consider joining us next Wednesday.
For more information, please get in touch with the Teacher Librarian.
Help out the local Food Bank and the Reading Tree program. A donation of three cans of food, or two new or used books, earns you a photo opportunity with Buck the Library Duck, and a custom made Christmas Card to share with friends and family!
Starting December 2, come down to the School Library to take advantage of this incredible holiday tradition!
Help out the local Food Bank and the Reading Tree program. A donation of three cans of food, or two new or used books, earns you a photo opportunity with Buck the Library Duck, and a custom made Christmas Card to share with friends and family!
Starting December 2, come down to the School Library to take advantage of this incredible holiday tradition!
It is the season of Holidays and Holy Days! Come check out our display of books and other materials related to the Holiday Season. Learn about the festivals and celebrations that come from a wide variety of cultural and religious traditions.
The religion known as Buddhism dates back to the 6th or 5th Century BCE, when the Indian Prince Siddhartha Gautama became the “Buddha,” literally, “the Enlightened One.” The followers of the Mahayana branch of Buddhism observes Bodhi Day in celebration of the day that the Buddha sat below the Bodhi Tree and meditated on the meaning of life. Bodhi Day is celebrated mainly by the Buddhists of northern and eastern Asia (in Japan the day is known as Rohatsu) and in countries to which those people have immigrated (such as Canada). For more on Bodhi Day and the life of the Buddha, click here.
If you haven’t yet read How the Irish Saved Civilization, put it on your reading list! Author Thomas Cahill tells some remarkable stories from the era that he calls one of the “hinges of history.” Cahill makes the case that ideas that came from the Greeks, the Romans and the Jews, ideas that are among the foundational ideas of our civilization, were on the edge of an abyss, possibly to be lost forever. If not for the Irish, our civilization, at least civilization as we know it today, may have slipped away forever. Read it for yourself and see what you think.
If people tell you that Santa Claus isn’t real, tell them to think again! Saint Nicholas lived in the 3rd and 4th Centuries AD(CE). He lived in what is now known as Turkey, but what was then a Greek area of the Roman Empire. The legends surrounding his life grew and evolved over the years, eventually leading to our modern picture of Santa.
Help out the local Food Bank and the Reading Tree program. A donation of three cans of food, or two new or used books, earns you a photo opportunity with Buck the Library Duck, and a custom made Christmas Card to share with friends and family!
Help out the local Food Bank and the Reading Tree program. A donation of three cans of food, or two new or used books, earns you a photo opportunity with Buck the Library Duck, and a custom made Christmas Card to share with friends and family!
Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School Library 